HiWave in Cambridge, UK, is showing new loudspeaker driver and amplifier designs in its "Tempus" demonstrator at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week and the ALMA (The International Loudspeaker Association) Symposium. Tempus brings together an all-new variant of the company's BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) speaker drive unit and its Audium amplifier chip in a reference design that now delivers higher power output plus Bluetooth wireless audio streaming.

The Tempus transparent enclosure enables engineers to see the simplicity of the structure that encapsulates the BMR drive unit and the electronics module based on HiWave's Audium amplifier chip. The single Lithium-ion battery that powers the device is also visible. Pairing the speakers with any Bluetooth enabled phone or tablet produces a clarity, range and depth of sound that belies the 23cm tall unit's physical size. At typical listening levels the battery powers the unit for over 30 hours between charges.

"Our BMR technology overcomes the difficulties and compromises that come with the use of conical or domed diaphragms," said Chris Travis, CTO of HiWave." The flat diaphragm's bending modes give these drive units wide dispersion across the full frequency range, approximating the performance of an ideal point source. By using HiWave drive units our customers are creating better-sounding products in shorter timeframes than ever before. The Tempus demonstrator shows speaker design at its purest – a flat drive unit in an enclosure that is all curves, giving it superior acoustic and mechanical properties".

Flat speakers are becoming more popular and manufacturers are still trying to overcome the various difficulties when designing one. I think this bluetooth speaker that is unveiled at the CES would be a fine addition to the various other brands in the world.
Daniel - http://taylormadeleadership.com